Juneau Daily News Online

Thursday, January 27, 2000  ©  Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Fire department rolls out on two calls
  A house fire and a hot shower are found
Firefighters responded to a Julep Street home in the Valley just before 1:30 this afternoon. Heavy smoke was seen coming from a window upon arrival. The fire was declared out at about 1:45pm. A fire department official said the blaze may have started in the living room. Further details are pending. The fire department responded to the downtown building that houses the Imperial Bar and Hotel at 11:16 this morning on a report of smoke coming from the building. When firefighters arrived, bystanders told them smoke was coming from a third floor room. There was no smell of smoke. What firefighters found was a hot shower left running that kicked up enough steam to apparently set off the fire alarm, according to Downtown Volunteer Fire Chief Jim Carroll. The Chief said he was glad to learn that there wasn't a fire in such an old building in the downtown core and such a windy day as today.

Nasty day...
The high wind warning issued for Juneau was still in effect early this afternoon. A gust at Eaglecrest was clocked at 106 miles per hour at 2:00 this morning. A 78 mile per hour gust was reported at the Mt. Roberts Tram at 10:00am. A gust to over 70 was reported at the Juneau Ranger Station in the Mendenhall Valley and 62 miles per hour atop the Federal Building downtown overnight. The National Weather Service reports the front was expected to pass through the area by early this afternoon with the winds dropping off quite a bit at that point. The frozen ground and heavy rain today has also made roads tricky for drivers today. Many residents reporting standing water on side streets, and commuters found lots of big puddles on the main streets as well today (left).

Avalanche crosses Thane Road
Juneau Police report a small avalanche out Thane just before ten this morning. Snow to six inches in depth was reported across the road. State road crews were called to clear the area. No injuries or property damage were reported.

Missing man found alive in Cordova avalanche
Probing efforts by nearly 100 searchers at the site of yesterday's big avalanche in Cordova (right) recovered the body of Martha Quales, age 63, from the wreckage of her home at 12:35pm. The house was moved approximately 30 feet, and was totally demolished, the worst damage of all homes impacted.  The second resident of the home Jerry LeMaster, age 50 was recovered from the wreckage, alive and in good condition at around 4:00pm.  He was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Cordova. According to the Fish and Wildlife Protection Sergeant on the scene approximately 10 buildings were impacted by the avalanche, many pushed 20 to 30 feet off their foundations. Many buildings, including two construction company warehouses, were completely destroyed.

Halford calls renewed subsistence litigation "good news"
Senate Resources Committee Chair Rick Halford (left), a guest on KINY's Capital Chat this morning, called the state's renewed challenge of the Katie John subsistence case good news. State Attorney General Bruce Botelho says the state will argue that Congress did not intend federal agencies to usurp state sovereignty to manage state navigable waters. Halford called it a significant step in the right direction. He said that may open an avenue that gets to some kind of resolution at the federal and Supreme Court level. Halford has opposed amending the state constitution to bring Alaska into compliance with federal law by granting a rural priority. The state was constrained from appealing the case until the district court issued a final judgment. That judgment came earlier this month. Halford, during his radio appearance this morning, also uttered his disdain for the proposal to eradicate the Permanent Fund Dividend Program after giving out a final check of $25,000. He called it a cynical proposal aimed at stealing the fund from future generations. Halford called it inefficient since it would amount to a huge windfall for the federal government in the form of income taxes.

Van Sant: property tax cap initiative misunderstood
State Assessor Steve Van Sant told the Alaska Conference of Mayors meeting in Juneau yesterday that he believes many people who signed the property tax cap petition don't understand the consequences, if it were to become law. The initiative provides that all future bond debt, except revenue bonds, must be paid for within the 10 mill cap. Van Sant says the initiative, as written, would play havoc with assessments. He says because of the assessment cap, the initiative would treat people with property nearly identical in value, but bought and sold at different times, unfairly. The mayors concluded their two day meeting with a presentation of the "Fourth Annual State of the Municipalities." They bemoaned the thought of more legislative budget cuts and told reporters they want to work with the Legislature so as to be part of the solution.

Bill would offset tax cap's local impact
Juneau Senator Kim Elton introduced legislation today aimed at offsetting the impact of the property tax cap initiative if its approved in November's statewide General Election. He says it gives control back to local voters by allowing to increase the cap beyond 10 mills as stipulated in the initiative. Elton's bill also provides that bonded debt for schools does not fall under the tax cap.

APIRG upset with merger panel
The decision by a joint legislative committee to wait for the Federal Trade Commission to act on BP-Amoco's proposed merger with Arco before announcing an official position is being criticized by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group. The commission has scheduled a meeting tomorrow when regulators are expected to take some action to block the deal. Steve Conn of APIRG feels the lawmakers should speak out before then. Conn says the Commission is supposed to base its decision, in part, on the Legislature's findings. The committee's chair Rick Halford, doesn't think it would make any difference at all at this point. He said he expects negotiations will continue right up to the commission's February 3rd deadline for making a decision. Experts retained by the committee recommended against the proposed merger.

Judge stops student's punishment -- for now
A state court judge has blocked the penalty imposed by the Anchorage School District against an honors student who accessed a pornographic site on the Internet. Judge John Reese yesterday issued a written order saying a failing grade can't be placed on Thomas Obermeyer Jr.'s academic record until his appeal of the punishment is decided.

Cutter slams dock in Dutch Harbor
The Coast Guard cutter Jarvis (left) is in for repairs after slamming into a Dutch Harbor dock yesterday. Coast Guard officials say the cutter suffered minor damage, but the Delta Western fuel dock had major damage after the 378-foot-long steel vessel slammed into it. The cutter was approaching the dock with help from a tugboat at about 10:30 yesterday when the accident occurred. Winds were blowing at about 60 mph at the time of the accident. The Delta Western Fuel Dock manager says the dock will remain open during repairs.

Who wants to be a slimer?
Kodiak cannery managers are offering everything from retirement plans to pizza parties as well as higher wages, in an effort to woo job seekers. An unusually tight labor market has left Kodiak's 9 seafood plants struggling to find workers at a time when the pollock and cod fisheries are in full swing.

Stevens believes Clinton try to restore image
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has a pretty good idea what President Clinton will have to say during his final State of the Union Address tonight. He says most swan song's he's heard have been conciliatory, but Stevens believes Clinton will make a series of demands in an attempt to "restore his image in his own mind," as he put it.

Murkowski to address to Legislature
US Senator Frank Murkowski (right) is scheduled to make his annual speech to legislators tomorrow. The senator says the speech will focus on economic development issues. Murkowski will address a joint session of the Legislature at 11:00am. The senator on Saturday will fly to Ketchikan afterward and hold a serious of meetings and briefings before attending the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.

Slotnick promoted
Neil Slotnick is moving from the Department of Law to become the Deputy Commissioner of Revenue. He replaces Ross Kinney who retired last month. The 43 year old Slotnick is a graduate of Stanford Law School. The Fairbanks born and bred Slotnick clerked for Alaska Supreme Court Justice Jay Rabinowitz from 1990 to 1991 .

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